The Urban Deerslayer

[ncboman]

“I think going through my life without at least experiencing that most primal thing of hunting would be cheating,” he said.



He also argued that for the environmentally conscious, hunting is fairly carbon neutral.

“If you can shoot a deer in your own backyard, butcher it there, that’s zero food miles,” he said.



NY Times article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/dining/25hunt.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1)

:)

[Bushman]

I wonder how you get people past the wild pet stage line of thinking? Two years ago my buddy had a 200# dressed size 9 pointer acting like a domestic in his extended back yard and I wanted to shoot it. I respected his wishes and didn't, but after the rut it disappeared and very likely turned into venison over at the neighbor's place. This year his son-in-law has a 10 and a 12 point walking through the yard and he doesn't hunt. I know lots of you guys have deer in your own yards as evidenced by the pictures that you put up. When if ever do you start thinking of those deer as food instead of lawn ornaments?

[purple heart]

Hey Bushman I know what you mean by people thinking the deer in
their yards are their pets but anybody elses deer are for hunting.

My hunting buddy has deer in his yard quite often yet he would never
consider trying to kill one of "his deer".

The only way to kill his deer would be with a bow so one year I suggested
that maybe during bow season we could try to get one of his deer.
Magically the deer in his yard stop showing up during bow season
according to him. Then magically they come back after bow during
rifle season when it would be against the law to take one. No firearms
shooting in this part of town. Is that considered a not in my back yard
syndrome situation? :confused::)

[Sidekick]

I have all kinds of critters that pass through my yard. I've had plenty of chances to take deer and turkey from my kitchen window but haven't yet. I usually have a live and let live policy until I start having problems in the garden or damage of some sort. I think that the Native Americans had a superstition about not hunting the animals that come to your door. Besides I kind of like looking out the window and seeing turkeys in the yard and I don't want to mess that up.

[Bill Gunn]

When if ever do you start thinking of those deer as food instead of lawn ornaments?

about 7:10 am on opening day

[GF.]

I wonder how you get people past the wild pet stage line of thinking?

If you figure it out, lemme know!

I've got a lot of friends around town who tell me they'd love to have me get some of the deer out of their yards, but when I try to revisit the subject, they act as if I was bringing up the matter of $1000 they owed me.

I just wanna save my pennies and move into Bill G's neighborhood :D

[dave-t.]

After having deer and turkeys in my yard for 7yrs or so, I can tell you that they aren't near as wary once they enter human domain. I had three 8 pointers in my yard one afternoon, and they turned and watched my neighbor as he started up his riding mower and started mowing laps in his yard. They got pretty nervous too, when he was on the back turn heading back towards my yard. I actually got ticked that they didn't have the sense to run off, but the reality is, a back yard is a pretty safe place for a deer 98% of the time, and the food aint bad either.

Deer become different animals when in the 'burbs and where they expect to see/smell humans. Back in the cover on their turf, they are wild deer again and don't like intrusion.